Sanctions for Pac-12 officials in Wisconsin-Arizona State

Sep. 16, 2013
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Jack Folliard, shown at a game in 2011, was the referee for the Wisconsin-Arizona State game Saturday. He has worked games for the Pac-10/Pac-12 for more than 30 years. / Jason O. Watson, USA TODAY Sports

by USA TODAY Sports, USA TODAY

by USA TODAY Sports, USA TODAY

The officials who worked Saturday night's game between Wisconsin and Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz., have been been reprimanded by Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott, the league announced in a news release Monday.

The release also said Scott has given the crew "additional sanctions" but did not specify them.

Jack Folliard was the referee for the game. He has been working Pac-10/Pac-12 games for more than 30 years.

The release cited the officials' failing to properly administer the end-of-game situation and act with appropriate urgency on the game's final play.

Arizona State beat the then-No. 18 Badgers 32-30.

With 18 seconds remaining and the ball at the Arizona State 13-yard line, Wisconsin quarterback Joel Stave ran the ball toward the center of the field in an effort to get the ball to the center of the field for a presumed attempt at the game-winning field goal. Stave touched his knee to the ground and then placed the ball on the ground.

There was initial uncertainty over whether Stave had taken a knee, given himself up or fumbled. As a result several Arizona State players considered the ball live and attempted a fumble recovery.

"Neither the referee nor anyone on his crew moved with appropriate urgency to clearly communicate that the ball was to be spotted so play could resume promptly," the Pac-12 noted in its release.

The final seconds ticked away with Wisconsin unable to run another play.

"This was an unusual situation to end the game," Scott said in the release. "After a thorough review, we have determined that the officials fell short of the high standard in which Pac-12 games should be managed. We will continue to work with all our officials to ensure this type of situation never occurs again."

Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen was read the Pac-12 statement at his regular Monday news conference and asked for his reaction.

"It doesn't change the outcome, obviously," he said. "And like I said earlier, I don't expect that. But it's accountability, which at the end of the day is what we ask for."

Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany also offered his thoughts on the Pac-12's actions.

"The Pac-12 statement speaks for itself and is consistent with what we observed in the closing moments of the game," he said in a statement released by the Big Ten. "If properly officiated, the Wisconsin football team would have had an additional down."